Difficult times have hit a popular South Cheshire club bordering our region, but now under full new family ownership, Malkins Bank in Sandbach can look forward to an exciting reset and continued growth in stature.
Wayne and Francesca Bell are the new owners of the club, having originally taken over the running and revamping of the clubhouse, renamed as Bar918, in late 2023. Those who visited in previous years, including the MG editorial team, will remember the former facilities as modest at best. As the photo shows, Bar918 now looks fantastic — a clear indication of what’s to come for the entire venue.
Since taking on the full running of the club, the new ownership has wasted no time in making their mark. Major investments have already been made into new machinery, a fleet of buggies, significant improvements to the greens, and a newly enhanced clubhouse area, with ongoing upgrades continuing across the site.
Further developments are already underway. Bar918 has been extended into a full-length terrace that can be adapted for all weather conditions. The club currently offers six play-and-stay pods, accommodating up to 12 golfers, with plans to expand to 15 pods in the near future. Padel courts are also set to be introduced, adding another dimension to the venue’s appeal.
The club is also actively seeking a professional golfer to join the team, as part of its wider ambition to elevate standards across all areas of the business.
Looking ahead, the vision is ambitious. The aim is to host county events and local professional tournaments in the near term, with the long-term goal of attracting international events. Alongside this, there is a clear commitment to developing the course to a level where it will be recognised as one of — if not the — best golf courses in the Cheshire area.
Wayne spoke to us in March regarding their plans, and his ambitions for the venue.
“Just to tidy up the place for now, long term is to really improve the golf course as well. We’re learning on the spot about that, we had to inherit the course, no choice but to do that and we’re relying on a great team we have here already to help us learn and do all the right things long term. Not enough money has been spent on the golf course in recent years, but we will change all that soon. I want to make Malkins Bank one of the leading courses in Cheshire to play at.”
With strong investment, clear ambition, and a hands-on approach from ownership, Malkins Bank is entering a new and exciting chapter
